Not everything that is faced can be
changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced. The
first step toward change is acceptance. Once we accept, we
open the door to change. That's all we have to do. Change is not
something we do, it's something we allow.
Courage
is about doing what we're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless
we are scared. We are
scared today, but when comes tomorrow, our heart will not know sorrow.
We
will not know fear, and cry no tears, tomorrow we will be stronger and
happier. We could learn a lesson about fear and acceptance from the
following article
derived from the writings of Peter Hughes.
As
the sun rose, a dew drop became aware of its surroundings. There it sat
on a leaf, catching the sunlight and throwing it back out. Proud of its
simple beauty, it was very content. Around it were other dew drops, some
on the same leaf and some on other leaves round about. The dew drop was
sure that it was the best, the most special dew drop of them all. Ah,
it was good to be a dew drop.
The wind rose and the plant began to shake, tipping the leaf. Terror
gripped the dew drop as gravity pulled it towards the edge of the leaf,
towards the unknown. Why? Why was this happening? Things were
comfortable. Things were safe. Why did they have to change? Why? Why?
The dew drop reached the edge of the leaf. It was terrified, certain
that it would be smashed into a thousand pieces below, sure that this
was the end. The day had only just begun and the end had come so
quickly. It seemed so unfair. It seemed so meaningless. It tried
desperately to do whatever it could to cling to the leaf, but it was no
use.
Finally, it let go, surrendering to the pull of gravity. Down, down it
fell. Below there seemed to be a mirror. A reflection of itself seemed
to be coming up to meet the dew drop. Closer and closer they came
together until finally...
And then the fear transformed into deep joy as the tiny dew drop merged
with the vastness that was the pond. Now the dew drop was no more, but
it was not destroyed. It had become one with the whole.
By Tim Pedrosa
Courage
is not a lack of fear but the ability to act while facing fear. |